Major New Hurricane Expected To Take Path Up East Coast, New Model Shows

The so-called "Spaghetti model" from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts shows a northerly path moving up East Coast for Hurricane Irma.Photo Credit: European Centre for Medium-Range Weather ForecastsA satellite image of Irma, which became a Category 3 hurricane Thursday and is now in the open waters of the eastern Atlantic.Photo Credit: NOAA.gov

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A major new hurricane heading west through the Atlantic Ocean is expected to make landfall next week and it appears more likely that could happen somewhere on the East Coast.

New data released by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts making up a "spaghetti model" (so called because the numerous possible paths look like spaghetti strands) shows the majority of possible paths for Irma, which became a Category 3 hurricane on Thursday, have it taking a northerly path up the East Coast after concluding its westerly trek somewhere in the area of south Florida.

Irma will take about a week to make its trek westward across the Atlantic and meteorologists will likely be tracking this storm through the middle of September, according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski.

"There is the potential for Irma to ramp up to an even more powerful hurricane this weekend," Kottlowski said. "While fluctuation in strength is likely, we expect Irma to become a Category 4 well before it reaches waters near the Lesser Antilles."

Subtle changes in water temperatures and atmospheric conditions, such as slightly drier air and a small patch of strong winds aloft, can cause significant fluctuations in strength in even the strongest of hurricanes.

Indeed, nothing is certain as far as Irma's path goes. As the "spaghetti model," shows, it's still possible the hurricane may end its westerly trek in the open waters and trek north while still out to sea.

"At this early stage, it is unclear whether a non-tropical storm will draw Irma toward the U.S., push it away or miss affecting it entirely prior to the middle of the month.," Kottlowski said.